How to repair lost trust in relationships

Trust is an essential part of a healthy relationship. But, at times, it is broken and one partner is left feeling betrayed and hurt. It is, however, possible to rebuild that trust. It will take a lot of time and effort, but it can be done. Here are a few tips to get the process started.

Acknowledge the mistrustIf mistrust exists, it means that something has happened in the past that has undermined the core of the relationship. While avoiding the issue is easy, especially if you are looking to avoid what will be a tough conversation, acknowledging the mistrust is the first step in getting your relationship back on track.

Take responsibilityWhatever it is that you have done, it has hurt your partner and made him question the very foundation of your relationship. Own up to your behaviour. Also, understand the factors that were instrumental in leading you astray. Try to correct/resolve them to prevent such a situation from arising in the future.

Communicate honestlyThere will be some difficult conversations, but it is important for both of you to communicate with each other as honestly as possible. You should be able to express yourself and your partner should be able to voice his grievances and pain in a healthy manner. Open communication is essential to repair a relationship that is broken.

Don’t blame or bring up the pastIt is easy to begin the blame game in such situations. It is also not difficult to bring up past issues that showed your partner in bad light. But doing so will achieve nothing. So, even if the two of you argue, make sure it is a fair fight in which the current issue is being discussed.

Give your partner spaceAfter you accept and acknowledge your mistake, you might feel that you have done your part and the onus is now on your partner. But your partner needs time to process everything and express how he feels. Trust can’t be built overnight, so give your partner the space and time he needs.

Talk about the futureOnce the two of you have discussed the issue and resolved matters between yourselves, start talking about your future goals. This will give both of you something positive to focus on. It will also give the two of you a break from the current problem. Making future plans also shows your intention of being together, which can reassure both of you.